France vs Morocco: A Look at Their World Cup Encounters and Rivalry
The upcoming 2026 World Cup will see France and Morocco clashing once more, two teams with very different but compelling histories in this tournament. France, a nation boasting two World Cup titles, carries a legacy of dominance and star talent, led by players like Kylian Mbappe aiming for a third trophy.
Morocco has recently rewritten African football history. In 2022, they became the first African team to reach the semifinals, surprising many and setting a new standard. Now, they return to the quarterfinals, and again, their path is blocked by France.
Historical Matchups Between France and Morocco
The two countries have met six times in total, but only one of those clashes took place during the World Cup — in 2022. Over the last two decades, they faced off twice, with four matches being competitive and two friendly games.
Their first encounter was back in 1988 at the Tournoi de France, where France edged a 2-1 win. They also met in the King Hassan II Cup on several occasions, including a memorable penalty shootout victory for Morocco in 1998.
Overall Head-to-Head Record
Looking at all meetings, France leads with four wins, while Morocco has one, and one match ended in a draw. If we exclude friendlies, France still holds the edge with three wins to Morocco's single draw and loss.
Their only World Cup showdown happened in 2022, where France won 2-0 in the semifinals, a game fresh in fans' memories as it set the stage for Morocco’s historic run.
The Last Clash at the 2022 World Cup
Their most recent battle took place in Qatar’s 2022 World Cup semifinals. It was a historic stage for Morocco, the first African team to reach this far. Playing at Al Bayt Stadium, France claimed victory with early and late goals from Theo Hernandez and Randal Kolo Muani. This win propelled France into the final, where they eventually lost to Argentina on penalties. Morocco finished fourth after losing the third-place match to Croatia.
